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ESTABLISHED 

ON SANTA FE TRAIL 1830 






COMPILED BY 



J. P. BIGGS 

ARROW ROCK, MISSOURI 
1913 



THE HUGH STEPHENS PRINTING CO., JEFFERSON CITY 



1807 



TO 

HERBERT S. HADLEY, ELIZABETH GENTRY 

AND 

HOPE CASEY VAN BRUNT 

THIS BOOKLET IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 



1913 



1807 



ARROW ROCK 



ITS HISTORY 




N THE YEAR 1807 a company of 
traders with headquarters at St. 
Louis, sent Capt. Geo. Sibley of St. 
Charles to establish a trading post 
within the present boundaries of Sa- 
line County. The site chosen after 
a careful survey of the country was 
where the town of Arrow Rock now 
stands. Here Capt. Sibley erected quite a 
substantial building of logs, a story and a half 
high with one door and no windows, which 
could be used for a trading house or converted 
into a fort or blockhouse. 

When the War of 1812 broke out Sibley 
returned to St. Louis and it is believed never 
came back to the county. Sibley's house stood 
on the present site of High Street, overlooking 
the Howard county bottom lands across the 
Missouri river. 

In the year 1811 the first ferry was estab- 
lished at Arrow Rock, and in 1827 we find the 
ferry crowded with passenger traffic to Saline 
county. 

The first settlement by white men in Saline 
county was made by Jesse Cox, a native of 
Madison county, Kentucky, just above the 
Arrow Rock in 1810. Here Cox "cleared a 
patch of ground and built a cabin." The next 
year he removed his family from Cooper's Fort, 
just across the river, and the development of 
Saline county began. 



1913 



1807 



The plat of the town of Philadelphia (now 
Arrow Rock) was dated July 22, 1829. and filed 
August Tl, 1829. This plat recites that the 
town contained thirty-nine blocks, and Burton 
Lawless and John Bingham are named as pro- 
prietors of the town. 

Since that time there have been two addi- 
tions to the now quaint old town overlooking 
the Missouri river. 

The Santa Fe Trail led from Old Franklin 
through Arrow Rock westward to Santa Fe, 
about 900 miles. Wm. Becknell, known as the 
father of the Santa Fe Trail, made the first trip 
over the trail in 1820 and in 1822 made the 
first successful expedition. Arrow Rock being 
on the Trail, began to stir with new life and 
since that time has been a flourishing trading 
point. 

Many buildings of the war time period are 
still standing in the old town, among them being 
the Old Tavern that today caters to the comfort 
of the traveler and the motorist. 

The history of Arrow Rock is closely con- 
nected with the history and progress of Saline 
county and Missouri. Many of her citizens 
have occupied high positions in the service of 
both county and State. 

A visit to the old town carries one back to 
the pioneer period. Many things of interest 
are pointed out to the traveler, and he feels that 
the old town reaches from the past to the present, 
that she even yet echoes the call of the ox driver, 
the winding of the stage coach trumpet, and the 
honk of the motor horn. 



1913 



1807 



DO YOU KNOW THAT 
ARROW ROCK 

Is situated on a high bluff overlooking the Mis- 
souri river? 
Is over 100 years old? 
Has a Tavern established in I 830? 
Has furnished three Governors to her State? 
Was the home of Geo. C. Bingham, the artist? 
Was once the county seat of Saline county? 
Has the best fresh water spring in the State? 
Is on the Missouri Cross-State Highway? 
Is on the Old Santa Fe Trail? 
Is on the proposed Transcontinental Highway? 
Has one of the Original Santa Fe Trail Markers? 
Is in sight of Cooper's Fort, the refuge of many 

early Missouri settlers? 
Had a cholera epidemic in 1849? 
Has a Methodist church built in 1850? 
Had a private school called McMahan Institute 

founded 1866? 
Had a school for young men called Richard 

Gaines School founded 1 860? 
Had Claiborne F. Jackson for postmaster in 

1837 at a salary of $50.00 per year? 
Had a Methodist Conference in 1835 with Bishop 

Roberts presiding? 
Was the home of J. B. Jones, the author of 

"Wild Western Scenes," "The Country 

Merchant" and other books? 



1913 



1807 



MISSOURI CROSS-STATE HIGHWAY 
Arrow Rock — Lexington 



ARROW ROCK, turn left around 

tavern. 
Right-hand road, turn right. 
Left-hand road, turn left, then 

right. 
Sign on right, turn left, swing 

right. 
Left-hand road, turn left around 

house. 
End of road, turn right, swing left. 
End of road, turn right. 
4 corners, sign on left, turn right. 
End of road, turn left, cross R. R. 

14.9. 
Brunswick St., jog left, then right. 
MARSHALL, courthouse on left. 
Benton Ave., turn right, cross R. R. 
End of road, turn left. 
End of road, turn right, then left. 
Right-hand road, turn right. 
First left-hand road, turn left. 
End of road, turn right. 
End of road, turn left, swing right. 
4 corners, turn left straight to 

Malta Bend. 
Left-hand road, cemetery on right. 
End of road, turn right, swing left. 
WAVERLY, straight ahead. 
End of road, turn right, taking 

first left. 
49.9 10.0 DOVER, turn left, taking first 

right. 
South St., turn right. 
13th St., turn right. 
Main St., turn left. 
LEXINGTON. 



1913 



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1807 



OLD TAVERN DINING ROOM 




The cleanest, coolest place on the Missouri 
Cross-State Highway. 



1913 



1807 



REST ROOM IN OLD TAVERN 




Established 1912 by Local Women's National 
Old Trails Road Association and main- 
tained for the cpmfprt of tourists. 



1913 



1807 



MISSOURI CROSS-STATE HIGHWAY 
Arrow Rock — Columbia. 



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0.0 0.0 ARROW ROCK, turn right 
around Tavern, avoid road to 
right, 2.8. 

Turn left. 

Sign on far right, turn right. 

End of road, turn right. 

LAMINE, straight ahead. 

End of road, turn right. 

Right-hand road, turn right. 

20.5 0.2 BOONVILLE, immediately after 
crossing R. R., turn left pass- 
ing station 20.8 to ferry over 
Missouri river, leaving ferry, 
go straight ahead to first 4 
corners. 

23.5 3.0 NEW FRANKLIN, turn right 
past P. O. 

Brick house on far left, turn right. 

End of road, turn left. 

Right-hand road, turn right. 

End of road, turn right. 

Left-hand road, turn left. 

End of road, turn right. 

Left-hand road, turn left. 

Left-hand road, turn left going 
straight through Rocheport 1 
block where turn left along 
river avoiding road to left. 

45.5 6.3 MIDWAY, follow main travel to 

west Broadway, cross R. R. 
53.4. 

53.6 8.1 COLUMBIA, postoffice on right. 



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1807 



REST ROOM IN THE OLD TAVERN. 



The Old Tavern Rest Room was established 
by the Local Women's National Old Trails Road 
Association in 1912, and is maintained by them 
for the interest and convenience of the tourist. 
The room is commodious and cool, is fitted with 
old-time furniture and is open day and night to 
all who may care to visit it. Here the tourist 
may tarry and refresh himself with water from 
the Big Spring, drunk from an old-fashioned 
gourd over 50 years old. Here the traveler is 
asked to register and view relics, handiwork, 
pictures and furniture of an early vintage. 

In this room may be seen the Headgear of 
Geronimo, the famous Indian Chief, the framed 
oil likeness of Gov. Claiborne F. Jackson, the 
rifle Governor Jackson carried during the war, 
his candlesticks, and the spur he wore during 
his whole military service, the sword that be- 
longed to W. S. Jackson, and many other relics 
that belong to the old families of Saline county. 

Here also are fine reproductions of the 
paintings of the famous Missouri artist, Geo. C. 
Bingham, as follows: 

"*The County Election," 

"The Result of the Election," 

"Pike's Peak," 

"Washington Crossing the Delaware," 

"Order No. II," 

"Palm Leaf Shade," 

"The Puzzled Witness," 

"The Jolly Flatboatmen," 

"John Howard Payne," 

"*The Stump Speaking," 

"Geo. C. Bingham." 

* Scenes of these pictures are in Arrow Rock, and por- 
traits are characters well known in Arrow Kock and com- 
munity. 

1913 



10 1807 



REST ROOM IN THE OLD TAVERN- 

Continued. 

Adorning the walls besides the pictures and 
other relics mentioned are: 

Land grants and old deeds signed by John 
Quincy Adams. 

Bills of sale of slaves giving names, dates, 
descriptions, etc. 

The Reap Hook that cut the first crop of 
wheat grown in Saline county. 

Bingham's rifle, over 100 years old. 

An old Seth Thomas clock nearly 100 years 
old. 

A flax wheel that has seen much service. 
Old time cooking utensils. 
An Ox Yoke, the property of Dr. Price. 
Old style settees, lounges and chairs. 

Indian hammers, tomahawks and arrow- 
heads of all kinds. 

Daniel Boone's fiddle, given by him to a 
slave and afterwards given to a Saline county 
boy. 

Many other things of interest are to be found 
here, and it is well worth a few minutes of the 
traveler's time to look through this interesting 
place and view the handiwork of 100 years ago. 



1913 



1807 11 



THE OLD TAVERN AT ARROW ROCK. 



This is one of the oldest and possibly the 
best preserved antebellum hostelries on the 
Santa Fe Trail. Built of brick in a substantial 
manner, and well cared for during past years, 
the Old Tavern does not look like it has been 
standing since 1830. The Tavern was built by 
Judge Joseph Huston in 1830 of bricks burned 
by his slaves on the present site of the building. 
Its architecture is characteristic of the early 
period, having old fashioned fireplaces, windows, 
etc. The woodwork throughout is of solid 
native walnut dressed by hand, and has been 
estimated to be worth many hundreds of dollars 
in itself. 

Many noted men have been guests at the 
Tavern, among them being Washington Irving, 
Thos. H. Benton, the Jacksons, Marmadukes 
and many others of equal note. 

Since the advent of the motor car the Old 
Tavern has been a place of much activity, and 
has become a favorite stopping place for the 
motorist from the city and near-by towns. 

Everything about the building is kept spot- 
lessly clean, and the management caters to the 
most fastidious. The hungry motorist after 
partaking of a meal of fried chicken, country 
ham, hot biscuits, garden vegetables and cold 
buttermilk, is sure to stop on his return trip. 

Special dinners at a special price may be had 
on sufficient notice. 

The traveler will make no mistake when he 
stops at the Old Tavern on the Santa Fe Trail. 



1913 



12 



1807 



BIG SPRING 
Deeded to Arrow Rock in 1 829, 




At Arrow Rock on Santa Fe Trail 



1913 



014 571 461 8 



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014 571 461 8 



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